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IFFI Masterclass | Advancing Operations in Food

This two-day IFFI Masterclass offers an in-depth exploration of how food ingredient producers can strengthen their operational capabilities in an increasingly complex and resource-constrained environment.

12 November 2026 | 12:00 - 13 November 2026 | 13:00

This two-day IFFI Masterclass focuses on strengthening operational capabilities in the food ingredients industry amid growing complexity and limited resources.

Participants gain in-depth insights into modern maintenance strategies, including predictive modelling, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality, aimed at improving asset reliability, uptime, and overall equipment effectiveness. The program also tackles a critical industry challenge: the structural shortage of skilled personnel. Practical approaches to knowledge management, workforce development, and AI-enabled support tools are explored.

In addition, the masterclass examines the European Packaging Directive from an operational perspective, addressing key questions around standardization, compliance, cost reduction, and CAPEX implications. Industry experts share their views on how to manage these strategic trade-offs effectively.

The program combines expert keynotes with real-life business cases from operational leaders in the food ingredients sector. On the second day, participants visit an IFFI-affiliated company, where insights from day one are translated into practical actions for their own operational environments.

What’s in it for me?

As a participant, you will:

– Improve operational performance with practical, immediately applicable tools and methods;
– Leverage AI and predictive maintenance to reduce downtime, improve reliability, and lower costs;
– Address workforce shortages through effective knowledge management and workforce development strategies;
– Understand the operational impact of new regulations, including the European Packaging Directive;
– Learn from peers and real-world cases within the food ingredients industry;
– Leave with actionable insights you can directly apply to your day-to-day operational challenges.

In short, you gain practical knowledge, strategic perspective, and hands-on inspiration to take operational excellence in your organization to the next level.

IFFI Masterclass | Advancing Operations in Food

Advancing Operations in the Food Ingredients Industry

This two-day IFFI Masterclass explores how food ingredient producers can strengthen their operational performance in an increasingly complex and resource-constrained environment.

Participants will gain insights into modern maintenance strategies, including predictive modelling, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to improve asset reliability, uptime, and overall equipment effectiveness. Remco Jonker (Mainnovation) will share the latest developments in maintenance and asset management.

The masterclass also addresses the challenge of operating in a market with a structural shortage of skilled personnel. Jan ten Have (Döhler) and Maarten Vrolijk (FrieslandCampina) will discuss practical approaches to workforce development, knowledge management, and support tools.

Cybersecurity is another key topic. Alex Kruiter and Richard Elsinga (Royal Smilde) will explain the impact cyberattacks can have on organizations and production operations, and how companies can strengthen their operational resilience in food.

In addition, the program examines the operational implications of the European Packaging Directive, including the balance between standardization, compliance, and investment requirements.

Through keynote sessions and real-life business cases, this masterclass offers a practical learning experience for professionals seeking to advance operational excellence in the food ingredients industry.

The second day includes an exclusive company visit to an IFFI-affiliated organization, where participants will translate the insights from day one into their own operational practice.

Thursday, 12 November

Venue: to be announced

12:00 – 13:00 hrs
Registration & lunch

 

 

 

13:00 – 13:30 hrs
Opening & introduction by Halbe Vogel, IFFI

13:30 – 13:45 hrs
Introduction Maintenance case by IFFI affiliated company (to be announced)

 

13:45 – 14:15 hrs

‘Next-Gen Maintenance’ by Remco Jonker, Mainnovation

14:15 – 15:00 hrs
Plenary & break-out sessions

15:00 – 15:30 hrs
Break

15:30 – 16:00 hrs

‘Staff Deployment’ by Jan ten Have, Doehler

16:00 – 16:30 hrs

‘Closing the skill gap’ by Maarten Vrolijk, FrieslandCampina

16:30 – 17:15 hrs
Plenary & break-out sessions

17:15 – 17:30 hrs
Wrap up

17:30 – 18:15 hrs
Pre-dinner drinks

18:15 – 19:30 hrs
Dinner

19:30 – 20:30 hrs

‘Cyber Attack in Food’ by Alex Kruiter and Richard Elsinga, Royal Smilde

 

 

20:30 hrs
Wrap up and closing by Halbe Vogel, IFFI

Friday, 13 November

Venue: to be announced

08:30 – 08:45 hrs
Opening by Halbe Vogel, IFFI

08:45 – 09:00 hrs
Introduction Packaging case by IFFI affiliated company (to be announced)

09:00 – 09:30 hrs
‘Navigating the Packaging Directive’ by industry expert (to be invited)

09:30 – 10:15 hrs
Plenary & break-out sessions

10:15 – 10:45 hrs
Break & travel to IFFI affiliated company (to be announced)

Company visit: IFFI affiliated company (to be announced)

10:45 – 11:00 hrs
Welcome and introduction by ………, IFFI affiliated company

11:00 – 11:45 hrs
Presentation on ‘Advancing Operations in Food’

11:45 – 12:30 hrs
Company tour

12:30 – 13:15 hrs
Closing by Halbe Vogel, IFFI and lunch

Remco Jonker – Partner, Mainnovation

Remco Jonker is Partner at Mainnovation, a global consultancy specializing in maintenance and asset management for asset-intensive industries, including the food and beverage sector. With over 25 years of experience, Mainnovation helps companies improve performance through its VDMXL methodology, aligning operational excellence with business value. Remco combines hands-on consulting with training and international projects, and is co-author of the VDMXL book series. He has worked with leading companies such as Cargill, FrieslandCampina, and ASML, helping organizations create a common language for maintenance and asset management across global operations.

Jan ten Have – Head of Supply Chain & Operations, Doehler

Jan ten Have is an experienced operations executive currently serving as the Regional Head of Supply Chain & Operations (Europe & MEA) and Global Head of Plant-Based Supply Chain at the Döhler Group. With a strong background in managing complex global supply chains, he oversees logistics, operations, and digital transformation initiatives across multiple continents. Jan specializes in plant optimization, capacity planning, and implementing advanced digital technologies to drive efficiency in food and beverage manufacturing.

Maarten Vrolijk – Manufacturing Director, FrieslandCampina

Maarten Vrolijk is a results-driven operations leader currently serving as the Manufacturing Director Cheese Multisite at FrieslandCampina. Bringing extensive expertise in dairy production and international supply chain management, he oversees manufacturing and operational performance across multiple key locations, including Marum, Balkbrug, and Steenderen. Maarten has a proven track record of driving operational excellence, executing complex plant turnarounds, and scaling production capabilities, including successfully doubling daily output during his international tenure as Plant Manager in Nigeria. An alumnus of INSEAD, he specializes in continuous improvement, capacity optimization, and building high-performing manufacturing teams on the factory floor.

Alex Kruiter – Managing Director, Smilde Bakery

Alex Kruiter serves as the strategic Managing Director at Royal Smilde Bakery.He commands a wealth of experience in the international food manufacturing industry, accumulated over a long-standing career within the overarching Smilde group. Prior to spearheading the bakery division, he championed commercial development, R&D, and innovation frameworks as Commercial Director at Smilde Foods. Alex is recognized for his market-driven perspective, focusing intensely on business growth, capturing consumer trends, and integrating strategic acquisitions, such as pastry manufacturer De Maro. He completed his executive education at the EFMI Business School.

Richard Elsinga – ICT Manager, Royal Smilde

Richard Elsinga operates as the proactive ICT Manager at Royal Smilde.He holds key responsibility for anchoring the group’s digital architecture, ensuring robust data exchange across multiple business units and European factory locations. Richard heavily emphasizes the value of operational stability, recently driving large-scale infrastructure overhauls, such as standardizing the company’s enterprise platform with JD Edwards & RF-SMART. Beyond day-to-day IT management, he stands out as an advocate for corporate cybersecurity resilience. He famously guided the organization through critical crisis responses, implementing rigorous multi-factor authentication (MFA) protocols and comprehensive business continuity frameworks to safeguard enterprise data.

‘Next Gen Maintenance’ – Remco Jonker, Mainnovation

This session provides a broader perspective on how modern maintenance and asset management can contribute to operational excellence in the food ingredients industry. Participants will explore the transition from traditional maintenance approaches to data-driven and predictive strategies that support higher asset reliability, increased uptime, improved overall equipment effectiveness, and more efficient use of resources.
The session will address how technologies such as predictive modelling, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality are transforming maintenance practices, workforce capabilities, and decision-making processes. Practical examples and industry insights will illustrate how companies can reduce unplanned downtime, optimize maintenance planning, and strengthen long-term asset performance.

Led by Remco Jonker (Mainnovation), the session combines strategic insights with practical applications and highlights the latest developments in maintenance and asset management relevant to food manufacturing operations.

‘Staff Deployment’ by Jan ten Have, Doehler & ‘Closing the skill gap’ by Maarten Vrolijk, FrieslandCampina

This session focuses on one of the most critical operational challenges facing the food ingredients industry: maintaining performance and continuity in an environment with a structural shortage of skilled personnel. As experienced operators, technicians, and specialists become increasingly difficult to recruit and retain, organizations must rethink how they organize work, develop talent, and safeguard operational knowledge.

Participants will explore practical strategies for workforce development, knowledge management, and organizational resilience. The session will examine how companies can capture and transfer critical expertise, accelerate onboarding and training, support employees through digital tools, and create more flexible and future-ready operations. The role of AI-enabled support systems in assisting operators, maintenance teams, and decision-makers will also be discussed.

Jan ten Have (Döhler) and Maarten Vrolijk (FrieslandCampina) will share real-life experiences from their organizations, including lessons learned in addressing workforce shortages, strengthening operational capabilities, and preparing operations for the future. The session combines strategic insights with practical examples that participants can apply within their own operational environment.

‘Cyber Attack in Food’ by Alex Kruiter and Richard Elsinga, Royal Smilde

What happens when a cyberattack suddenly disrupts a food manufacturing company? In this session, Alex Kruiter and Richard Elsinga of Royal Smilde share their first-hand experience of a cyber incident and its impact on the organization.

They will take participants through what happened and how the attack affected the company’s operations from different perspectives. Beyond the immediate IT challenges, they will discuss the consequences for day-to-day business and management, as well as the human side of a cyberattack: how do employees respond when familiar systems and processes are suddenly unavailable, and what does such an incident mean for the people within an organization?

Drawing on their own experience, Kruiter and Elsinga offer an inside look at the impact of a cyberattack on an entire organization and share the lessons they took away from the incident.

‘Navigating the Packaging Directive’ by industry expert (to be invited)

This session explores the operational impact of the evolving European Packaging Directive on food ingredient manufacturers. As sustainability and circularity requirements become more stringent, companies must adapt packaging systems, manufacturing processes, and supply chains while maintaining operational efficiency.

Participants will discuss whether greater standardization can reduce complexity and costs, or whether compliance will require significant investments in packaging technologies and production infrastructure. Industry experts will share practical insights into investment priorities, implementation challenges, and the balance between sustainability goals, operational performance, and financial constraints.

Combining regulatory context with real-world operational experience, the session provides practical guidance for companies navigating the transition toward more sustainable packaging operations.

Company visit – IFFI affiliating company (to be announced)

The second day of the masterclass features also an exclusive visit to an IFFI-affiliated company, offering participants a unique opportunity to experience operational excellence in practice. During the visit, participants will gain insight into the host company’s production environment, operational organization, and improvement initiatives, and will engage directly with the company’s operations executives and specialists.

Building on the themes discussed during the first day, the session is designed to stimulate reflection, peer-to-peer exchange, and practical application. The company visit creates an interactive learning environment in which theory, real-life operations, and professional dialogue come together, enabling participants to leave the masterclass with concrete ideas and actions that can be applied within their own organization.

This masterclass is designed for executives, managers, and professionals working in Operations within the food ingredients industry, including Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Quality, Technology, Engineering, and Continuous Improvement. It is intended for employees of both IFFI-affiliated companies and non-affiliated food ingredient manufacturers who are involved in improving operational performance. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange insights, experiences, and best practices on advanced operations in the food ingredients industry.

Questions regarding this meeting? Contact Marita Mantle-Kloosterboer via marita@iffi.nu.

IFFI committee operations

Registration

The IFFI masterclass includes lunch, dinner and drinks. Hotel costs are excluded.

Registration is open for IFFI affiliating companies and non-affiliating manufacturers of food ingredients:

Participants employed by IFFI affiliating companies: participation is covered by the membership fee.
Participants employed by non-affiliating manufacturers of food ingredients.: € 1.350,- (excl. VAT); please complete the registration for. After validation, an invoice will be sent.

Venue: to be announced

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Details

  • Start: 12 November 2026 | 12:00
  • End: 13 November 2026 | 13:00
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Organizer

IFFI
Phone:
+31 (6) 254 333 96
Email:
marita@iffi.nu